Longtime readers of my work may recall that I’ve often over the years referred to James Robinson and Tony Harris’ STARMAN series as my favorite comic book, bar none. There are plenty of reasons why, which I’ll be getting to over the next couple of weeks. But I’ve got to cop to the fact that […]
Previously: In the first two parts of our examination of THE AVENGERS, we explored the origin and roster of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and took a stroll through their decades-long history. This week, we’ll explore the glory that new (and not-so-new) blood brought to the book in the late ‘90s. So settle in, have Jarvis pour […]
For those who came in late: Last week, we took a look at the beginnings of the Avengers, Marvel Comics’ preeminent superhero team, and indulged in what some might call an exhaustive look at the Avengers’ roster in the four decades since its inception. As we continue, we change our focus from who the Avengers […]
DC Comics may have invented the concept of the “superhero team” with the Justice Society, and later the Justice League, but they were never much on refining it. In the DC Universe, superheroes formed super-teams because, well, that’s just what superheroes did. (Sure, there were rare exceptions like the Doom Patrol, but they were short-lived.) […]
Editor’s Note: The recent loss of Neal Adams prompted me to pull this off the shelf and enjoy it again, and to entice you to do the same with this column from a few years back… With the news on Friday of the death of unrivaled boxing champion, social activist and philanthropist Muhammad Ali, I […]
By Scott Tipton By 1964, The Marvel Age of Comics was just getting into gear, and Marvel editor Stan Lee was looking for a way to punch up his newest superhero team book, THE AVENGERS. Having already revived Timely’s other Golden Age success, the Sub-Mariner, in the pages of FANTASTIC FOUR, it was time for […]
Most little kids related Easter with the Easter Bunny. For me, and still to this day, Easter makes me think of a different jovial character. Captain Marvel. When I was little, many Easters ago, I woke up one Easter morning to see my Easter Basket, full of the usual fare: chocolate bunnies, peanut butter eggs, […]
The following column first appeared April 18, 2018. Your humble professor is freshly returned from this year’s WonderCon 2018, returned to its rightful home in Anaheim, California, across the street from the House of Mouse. And a great show it was, feeling much like what was to me the heyday of the San Diego Comic-Con, […]
So let’s assume you’ve seen all the Marvel movies for the last few years, and are looking to do some AVENGERS reading now that MOON KNIGHT is airing and you’re back in a MCU mood. What do we recommend? Well, lucky for you, gentle reader, I just happen to have a list… AVENGERS MARVEL MASTERWORKS, […]
This piece is dedicated to the memory of artist Carolyn Kelly, daughter of POGO creator Walt Kelly, and guardian and custodian of his work and legacy. Carolyn Kelly had been spearheading the recent beautiful hardcover reprint collections of POGO from Fantagraphics, and even drew the strip herself during a brief revival. To learn more about […]
For Those Who Came In Late: In recent weeks, we’ve been chronicling the comic-book career of Marvel’s resident Jade Giantess, otherwise known as the She-Hulk. After a bit of a shaky start in her underwhelming solo series, She-Hulk began to gain some respectability with a steady if a little unremarkable stint in the AVENGERS, followed […]
Previously, in COMICS 101: Last week, we began our look at the superheroic career of one Jennifer Walters, better known to comics fans as the She-Hulk. After a strong start from creators Stan Lee and John Buscema, Shulkie had a bumpy road in her short-lived solo series, with an annoying supporting cast, horrible romantic interests, […]
There are some comic-book characters that, for better or worse, are all about the costume. Take, for example, Carol Danvers, a.k.a. Marvel Comics’ Ms. Marvel, or as she’s been alternately known in the past, Binary, Warbird, and these days, Captain Marvel. The character has always been a favorite of mine, and I’ll admit much of […]
